Artemisia alba, Turra

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1976, Flora Europaea. Volume 4. Plantaginaceae to Compositae (and Rubiaceae), Cambridge University Press : 180

8. A. alba Turra , Gior. Ital. Sci. Nat. Agric. Arti Commerc. 1: 144 (1764)

( A. camphorata Vili. , A. lobelii All. ; inch A. incanescens Jordan , A. suavis Jordan ).

Glabrous to white-tomentose, aromatic perennial with a stout, branched stock; stems 30-100 cm, woody below. Lower leaves 2(-3)-pinnatisect, the middle 1- pinnatisect and the upper usually simple; lower and middle leaves petiolate, with 1 or more pairs of small, more or less amplexicaul lobes at the base of the petiole; lobes 3-10x0-25-0-75 mm, obtuse. Capitula hemispherical, nodding, in a usually simple or slightly branched inflorescence. Involucre 3-4 mm; outer bracts lanceolate, with a narrow scarious margin, the inner ovate, with a wide, glabrous, scarious margin. Receptacle glabrous or hairy. Corolla glabrous but glandular. 2л = 36. S. & S. C. Europe. Al fAu Be Bu fCz Ga Gr Hs Hu It Ju Rm Si.

Very variable in indumentum, leaf-size and in smell. Several taxa distinguished by one or more of these characters have been described at specific, subspecific and varietal rank. These appear to be largely sympatric and plants with every degree of pubescence are of common occurrence. In view of this it seems scarcely possible, on the available information, to recognize subspecies, but further investigation is desirable.